Women’s Health Summit to launch new Women’s Health Network

A Women’s Health Summit will be held this week to mark the launch ofa new Women’s Health Network for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).

BLMK Integrated Care Board (ICB) has organised the event on Thursday 27 March at Venue 260, in Luton, bringing together healthcare professionals and representatives from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to drive meaningful change in women’s health services.

With women’s health historically overlooked by society, issues such as menstrual health, endometriosis, miscarriage and menopause have often been dismissed or stigmatised. In recent years, though, increasing awareness and advocacy, alongside the launch of the Government’s first-ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, have helped to push these crucial topics to the forefront of healthcare discussions.

BLMK’s Women’s Health Summit aims to build on this momentum, facilitating discussions and workshops to share best practices, and ensure that services reflect the needs of women in local communities. With the launch of the Women’s Health Network, the event marks an important step in developing a robust, inclusive approach to women’s health in BLMK, ensuring that all women receive the care and attention they need and deserve, and ultimately improving outcomes for women across all stages of life. Dr Sue Mann, NHS National Clinical Director for Women’s Health, will be a keynote speaker at the event.

Dr Sanhita Chakrabarti, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at BLMK ICB, said: “We’re excited to bring together healthcare professionals and VCSE representatives for this important women’s health event for Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes. This is a fantastic opportunity to share insights, discuss key health priorities, and help shape our local women’s health strategy. Through the launch of the Women’s Health Network, and by working together, we can ensure that the voices and experiences of women guide the future of healthcare services in our region.”

Please note the event has reached full capacity and is now closed for further registrations.

The Government’s first Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in 2022, can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/womens-health-strategy-for-england/womens-health-strategy-for-england.